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momofboys , 13 Dec 2017

I Only Pick My Lips

I'm 20 years old and I've been picking my lips obsessively for as long as I can remember. I pick them until they bleed and I don't even realize most of the time. If someone points it out and I force myself to stop, the urge is too strong and I continue anyway. My lips are scarred and constantly chapped, bleeding, flaking. I live in a dry climate so that doesn't help much, though I use chapstick often it almost makes them worse. I'm not sure if I fit the diagnosis of dermatillomania because I only pick my lips. When I was in jr high/high school I would pick my face also because I had acne, but now that I don't have acne I don't have the urge to pick my face at all. When I was a child I would chew my nails and cuticles constantly and when my mom bought the nasty tasting nail polish and painted my fingers with it, is when I think I started on my lips most often. I never thought it was that big of a deal until my husband started getting on me about it. Now I'm wondering what I can do to stop - I really don't think I can stop to be honest. Anyone else pretty much exclusively pick their lips all day long?

1 Answer
Little Monkey
December 15, 2017

If you're picking until you have visible damage, and still continue and can't stop, then I'd say yes, you are suffering from dermatillomania.

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